The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-09-01

RIGHT" was Zeb's ready response, as
We all filed out of the room.
Eyes," remarked Mr.. Duke to me
that night. t'Colonel Arper is the
wust man ever struck. Strickly hon
ahble, pufiick gentleman, but bad
man, sir, from way back"
HE seems to have very little re-
gard for human life," / ventured to
say.
"Well, that's when he's imposed up
on" explained Mr.. Duke. "He' s
materially kind hearted and lib'ral,
but when he thinks g. man is trying to
crowd him, then look out for great
snakes!"
"The shot gum" limited.
"Jesso. The shot gun, or the re-
volver, or the bowie knife. Why, sir,
I'll betcher the Cunnle's got not less
than two revolvers two bowie knives
on him right now. Such a man for
cecretin' concealed weepins, and
a-hidin, of 'em in a various manner all
over his person never did see, s'elp
me!''
"Killed many around here?" l
asked.
mo. Can't say he has. Bnt he
left reg'iar graveyard out IN Texas.
You see, he only came here some five
or six years ago to take the plantation,
when his father died and left it to
him.. So he hasn't been here very
long"
lis it true that he is so deeply in
debit"
"That's nothin'," snorted Mr..
Duke. otis jest as he says. While
the people have confidence it's all
right. The Cunnle has been unlucky
in his speculatioas, and the keards al
ways 60 agin him, but what's the diff
ference? His words as good as his
bond?"
went to bed and dreamed that the
Colonel had been sued, and that he
had shot the plaintiff dead in tho
courtroom, and had been serenaded
by his enthusiastic fellow citizens.
The next morning had not been on
the piazza five minutes before Colonel
Arper made his appearance with sew
eral companions. They were fresh
from the bar, and had all been drink
| ing heavily.
As they passed me the Colonel spoke
in an angry tone to one of the party,
a stranger who had evidently just ar
z rived.
: IF your remark Was PERSONAL" he
t said, "Ill be blanked if don: t."
Personal" answered the other quiz
city. ''Take it that way If 1t suits
l you am sure it is all the same to
l me-
The shock partly sobered Colonel
| Arper. He Strengthened himself and
threw his hand back to his hip pocket.
F.. For Gods sake" whispered Mr..
7 Duke to the stranger, take keer. The
Cinnle's wild this mornin'. He'll kill
t you if you don't apologize"
ave sized him up" said the stran-
ger. LET him alone. l can clean
. out dozen like him."
Everybody fell back to give the two
9 men clear field.
l Colonel Arper drew his pistol.
5 "Your hand is shaky," sneered the
} other. go and take another drink -
Arpers face turned pale. The stran-
ger looked at him with an air of cool
, contempt. But only for moment
Before we could realize it, he walked
: up to the colonel, snatched his pistol
from him, and then could we believe
7 our eyes he deliberately slapped the
desperate mans face, not once, but
3 twice!
Q Nor was this all. The cool stran-
: ger threw the colonel's pistol at his
t feet and walked off with an elastic
0 step down the street, whistlipg as he
went.
/ "Gentlemen," said the Colonel,
, staring at us, "this means blood"
: mo, it don't" said Zeb Duke. "but
8 it means business. I've put up with
l your airs long enough, you tritlin'
. cowardly fraud. You jest plank down
r what you owe ME and git!''
"Why, grear Goddlemighty, Zeb!
< "Will yor pay up, Cunnle?"
J. Arper muttered something about
l.. the first of the month. and without
T. another word sneaked off, leaving his
t fellow-citizens looking at each other
t in speeehless astonishment.
! I never saw q town so completely
] torn up as Perdide was in the next
e half hour.
One feature of the business surpris-
& ed me beyond measure. Pedder
. brought six suits against Arper that
very day. All the merchants follow.
: ed. For q week it fairly ralned decla
rations, bills in equity, attachments
y suits tor damages, garnishments. etc.
The effects were far reaching. Mer
n whose sole claims to credit consisted
t in certain bits of paper signed by Ar
q per were sued right and Left.
The place appeared to be in thu
!. hands of the sheriff, his deputies an6
t the bailiffs. AS the panic spread,
4 accidently detected Zeb Duke in tn,
9 act of running of most of his liquor
: and tobacco to hide them from hi.
8 creditors. Every stage brought mer
t chants and lawyers to look after thei1
q claims. 1t was evident that the Colo
e neps fall had hopelessly ruined the en-
9 tire town.
K Ileft before the trouble was over
IT and lett without seeing the Colonel
1t was rumored at the time of my de
9 parture that he had slipped off tt
Texas. At any rate he disappeared
d After the panic at Perdido it was no.
u safe for him to remain.
Sergeant McCOmb Relates Hi,
1C~p>nrinp,nn -,